Coreopsis plant named &#39;DCOREO202&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Coreopsis  cultivar named ‘DCOREO202’ is disclosed, characterized by long, continuous flowering on highly floriferous plants. Large flowers of intense color, mounded plant habit and good branching creating a dense and full body. The new variety is a  Coreopsis , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Coreopsis cordata

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DCOREO202’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Coreopsis cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newCoreopsis varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The openpollination resulting in this new variety was made during June of 2010.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referredto as Coreopsis cordata ‘co-z-41’ The pollen parent is unknown as it wasan open pollination breeding program. The new variety was discovered inJuly of 2011 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the2010 open pollination, in a research greenhouse in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetativecuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel during December of 2010 and has shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to typein more than 30 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DCOREO202’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DCOREO202’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DCOREO202’ as a new and distinct Coreopsiscultivar:

1. Good branching—dense and full bodied plant.

2. Large flowers with intense color.

3. Long & continuous flowering period.

4. Mounded habit.

5. Highly floriferous—many flowers are fully open at the same time.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCOREO202’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Coreopsis cordata ‘co-z-41’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DCOREO202’ differsin the following:

1. Fuller and denser plant structure.

2. More abundant flowering.

3. Shorter in height.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCOREO202’ are comparable to the commercialvariety Coreopsis ‘Limbo’ PP 22,130. The two Coreopsis varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety‘DCOREO202’ differs in the following:

1. Fuller and denser plant structure.

2. More abundant flowering.

3. Wider leaf.

4. ‘DCOREO202’ has bi-color red and yellow flowers compared to creamywhite flowers of ‘Limbo’.

5. Shorter in height.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DCOREO202’ are also comparable to thecommercial variety Coreopsis ‘Mambo’ 22,131. The two Coreopsis varietiesare similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the newvariety ‘DCOREO202’ differs in the following ways:

1. Fuller and denser plant structure.

2. More abundance flowering.

3 ‘DCOREO202’ has bi-color red and yellow flowers compared to bi-colordark pink and light pink flowers of ‘Mambo’.

4. Shorter in height

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DCOREO202’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 12 cm pot. Ageof the plant photographed is approximately 12 weeks from planting. FIG.2 illustrates a close up of the flowers. The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2001 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DCOREO202’ plants grown in a nursery duringFall of 2013 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperatureranged from 18° C. to 28° C. during the day and from 10° C. to 12° C.during the night. Measurements and numerical values represent averagesof typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Coreopsis cordata ‘DCOREO202’-   Propagation:    -   -   Typical propagation material.—Cuttings.        -   Time to rooting.—10 days at approximately 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 70 days old.        -   Pot size of plant described.—12 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Mounded.        -   Height.—Approximately 20-25 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 30 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Branching characteristics.—Well branched.        -   Length of lateral branches.—Approximately 18-20 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 2.5-3 cm.        -   Texture of lateral branches.—Smooth, glossy.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 3 cm.        -   Strength of stem.—Flexible, not easily broken.        -   Color of lateral branches.—Near yellow-green group 146C RHS.        -   Aspect/angle of branches.—45 degrees upwards from primary            branch.        -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—Approximately 15-20.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite Average Length: Approximately            5 cm. Average Width: Approximately 0.5-0.8 cm. Shape of            blade: Oblanceolate (inversely lance-shaped) Apex: Obtuse            Base: Pointed, acute Margin: Entire Texture of top surface:            Smooth Texture of bottom surface: Smooth Appearance top            surface: Matte Appearance bottom surface: Matte Color: Young            foliage upper side: Near yellow-green group 144A RHS Young            foliage under side: Near yellow-green group 146B RHS Mature            foliage upper side: Near green group 137C RHS Mature foliage            under side: Near yellow-green group 146B RHS.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate Venation color upper side: Near            yellow-green group 146B RHS Venation color under side: Near            yellow-green group 144A RHS.        -   Petiole.—Petiole: Present Length: 1.5 cm. Diameter: 0.1cm            Pubescence: absent Color: Near yellow-green group 146C RHS.-   Flower:    -   -   Bloom period.—From early Spring (March) to late Fall            (October) under moderate weather such as in Israel.        -   Bud.—Bud shape: Globular Bud length: Approximately 0.5 cm.            Bud diameter: Approximately 0.4 cm. Bud color: Near            yellow-green group 152A RHS.        -   Inflorescence.—Singly occurring composite flowers.        -   Flower.—Diameter of entire flower: Approximately 3 cm. Depth            offlower: Approximately 0.8 cm. Diameter of disc:            Approximately 0.7 cm. Depth of disc: Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Ray florets.—Number of Ray Florets: 8 Avg. Length:            Approximately 1.4 cm. Width: Approximately 1.0 cm. Shape:            Obcordate, but, typically with more than 2 lobes. Apex            shape: Irregular rounded lobes Margin: Wavy.        -   Color.—Ray Florets Upper surface at first opening: Near            yellow-orange group 17A RHS at Tip, and near greyed-purple            group 187A near disk. Upper surface at maturity: Near            yellow-orange group 17A RHS at Tip, and near greyed-purple            group 187B near disk. Upper surface at fading: Near            yellow-orange group 17A RHS at Tip, and near greyed-purple            group N186C RHS near disk. Under surface at first opening:            Near yellow group 13A RHS at Tip, and near greyed-orange            group 177A near disk. Under surface at maturity: Near            yellow-orange group 17B RHS at Tip, and near greyed-purple            group 178A near disk. Under surface at fading: Near            yellow-orange group 21 A RHS at Tip, and near Brown group            200B near disk. Disc Florets Number of Disc Florets: Average            60 Length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Width: Approximately            0.05 cm. Shape: Oblong Margin: Entire At first opening: Near            greyed- purple 187A RHS At maturity: Near greyed- purple            187A RHS At fading: Near greyed- purple N186A RHS.        -   Fragrance.—Faint.        -   Phyllaries/involucral bracts.—Number: Approximately 8 Sepal            length: Approximately 0.5 cm. Sepal width: Approximately            0.2 cm. Sepal texture: Smooth, stiff Apex shape: Acute            Margin: Entire Color: Transparent, near yellow-orange group            17A RHS.        -   Peduncle.—Peduncle length: Approximately 6-8 cm Peduncle            diameter: Approximately 0.2 cm. Angle: Not relevant as it is            a whole flower. Color: Near yellow-green 144A RHS Peduncle            texture: Smooth, slightly glossy.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Disc florets.—Androecium: Present Stamens: 2 fused lobes            Anther shape: Rounded Anther length: Approximately 0.1cm.            Anther color: Near grayed-purple 187A RHS Pollen quantity:            Moderate.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil number: one per disc floret Pistil shape:            Oblong, trumpet shaped Pistil length: Approx. 0.6 cm Style            length: Approx. 0.4 cm. Style color: Near green-yellow 1B            RHS Stigma shape: Cleft Stigma color: Near red 46B RHS Ovary            diameter: 0.07 Ovary color: Near green-yellow 1B RHS            Reproductive organs not typically found in ray florets.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Coreopsis            have been observed.        -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance.—Tolerant of hot, humid            summer climates.        -   Fruit/seed production.—Seeds observed.        -   Seed.—Shape: Oblong with cleft tip Color: Near brown group            200A RHS Size: Approximately 0.5 cm by 0.1 cm.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coreopsis plant named ‘DCOREO202’ as herein illustrated and described. 